New starting center? Dallas Cowboys draft Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe in third round

FRISCO —The Cowboys may have found their new starting center.

In the third round, with the No. 73 overall pick, Dallas drafted former Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe on Friday evening. His shorter arms project him to center, where he joins a competition with Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass for the starting job.

Center Tyler Biadasz, who started the past four seasons, signed last month with the Washington Commanders.

Beebe is considered a highly cerebral and physical player who was an All-American in 2023. He became the second offensive lineman chosen with the Cowboys’ first three picks, following former Oklahoma left tackle Tyler Guyton in the first round. Beebe measured 6-3 and 322 pounds at the NFL combine with 31 1/2-inch arms.

“I would say I’m a pretty nasty guy,” Beebe said Friday evening in a conference call with Cowboys reporters. “I’m a dude that tries to dirt people anytime I can. But I’m also a dude that just focuses on technique.

A four-year starter in college, Beebe was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year in both 2022 and 2023. He reunites in Dallas with former Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn, a 2023 sixth-round pick will compete for a roster spot this summer.

Beebe trained for the NFL combine locally.

He worked with offensive line instructor Duke Manyweather, whose OL Masterminds program is run out of Sports Academy, located across the street from the Cowboys’ headquarters at The Star. Manyweather shared a scouting report on Beebe in his transition to the NFL and center position.

“Physical!!!” Manyweather said via text message. “Moves better than people give him credit for. I think he showed that at the combine. He has a very high football IQ. He’s going to be a leader and hold people accountable. ...We’ve worked on him playing center, and he really was natural at it, being able to snap and pull, snap and reach. I like that he’s got tremendous play strength.”

Beebe ran the 40-yard dash in 5.03 seconds at the combine.

He managed 20 reps on the 225-pound bench press, a surprisingly low count considering his physical play style and short arm length.

“It was just a bad bench day,” Beebe said. “I was pretty tired from the day before. ...I don’t think it correlates to how I play on the field.”

More Day 2 draft coverage

— 2024 NFL draft grades: Our experts grade Cowboys’ pick of Marshawn Kneeland, Day 2 haul

— Dallas Cowboys have filled gaps in NFL draft, but climb from self-created hole continues

— National reaction: NFL draft expert a ‘big fan’ of Dallas Cowboys’ haul so far

— Dallas Cowboys forego RB on Day 2 of NFL draft as Jerry Jones talks up Ezekiel Elliott

— DeMarcus Lawrence’s successor? Cowboys draft Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland

— New starting center? Dallas Cowboys draft Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe in third round

— 5 things to know about Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland, including tribute to his mother

— Dallas Cowboys select Notre Dame’s Marist Liufau at No. 87 overall in 2024 NFL draft

— Dallas Cowboys stay put on Day 2 of NFL draft, use picks to accomplish another needed goal